In A Nutshell

A close look at the life’s work of Frances Glessner Lee
Jon Lee Rees

MSc (Open) Forensic Psychology & Criminology
Barn
The Godmother of Crime Scene Investigation
A forensic investigation training tool
•  18 highly detailed doll house
miniatures.
•  1:12 scale (1 inch = 1 foot).
•  Based on actual death scenes
compiled from court papers,
autopsies and statements from
detectives and witnesses.
•  Attention to detail so great that
calendars are exact, windows
open and fabrics and materials
are realistically worn and
weathered.
•  Still used in training and
seminars today by Maryland
Medical Examiners Office in
Baltimore – solutions are kept
under lock and key
Burned Cabin
•  90 minutes to examine a
diorama
•  Flashlight, magnifying glass
and a sheet of initial witness
statements.
•  Present analysis of case –
witness statements true or
false, any medical evidence
to gather, whether case was
a probable homicide, suicide
or accident
Three Room Dwelling

“The information supplied concerning each model is that which the officer would
normally have when sent to investigate, together with the first statements
obtained from one or more of the most immediate accessible witnesses. It must
not be overlooked that these statements may be true, mistaken, or intentionally
false, or a combination of any two or all three of these. The observer must
therefore view each case with an entirely open mind. The Nutshell Studies are
not presented as crimes to be solved—they are, rather, designed as exercises in
observing and evaluating indirect evidence, especially that which may have
medical importance.”
Woodman’s Shack
The Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death
Date: April 11, 1944
Deceased: Robin Barnes,
housewife
Witness: Fred Barnes, her
husband
“I went downtown at four
o'clock to run an errand for my
wife. After about an hour and a
half, I came back and found the
outside door to the kitchen
locked. It was propped open
when I left. I knocked and
called but got no answer. I tried
the front door but it was also
locked. I went to the kitchen
window which was closed and
locked. I looked in and saw her
lying on the floor. I called the
police, who forced open the
kitchen door.”
The model shows the premises

just before the police forced open
the door.
1. The Body - The medical
examiner should check for signs
of blunt trauma to the head to
determine homicide or suicide.
The ice cube tray and temperature
of the contents of the refrigerator
will help determine time of death.
Robin Barnes is lying on the floor next to the refrigerator. The door
is open and the ice cube tray is lying on the floor next to her.
2. The Stove - There is a pie just
out of the oven. Additionally, all
the gas jets are on. Her face
showed the tell-tale reddish color
of death by asphyxiation.
3. The Sink - There is a stainless
steel pot in the sink and partially
peeled potatoes littering the
surface. Mrs. Barnes is clearly in
the middle of preparing for
something. Is it likely a person
will stop in the middle of peeling
potatoes to kill herself?
4. The Butcher Block - There is a
glass and a rolling pin on the
butcher block. She had just finished
making a pie, flour covers the
surface. Did the glass on the butcher
block belong to the deceased or did
she get a drink for someone else? If
she was hit in the head before she
expired, the police should check the
rolling pin for evidence.
5. The Window & the Table - The
pin in the window is out; who
opened it? The table cloth is
askew. In a kitchen where
everything else is in place, this
disturbed table cloth tells us
something. Someone could've left
the room through the window.
6. The Iron - the iron is on the
ironing board. It could've been
used to knock her out. The killer
could've then turned on all the
gas jets and staged the room to
look like a homicide. Police should
check the iron for evidence.
7. The Knife - The knife was very
likely used to stuff the newspaper
in the door; either by the deceased
or her killer.
8. The Door - The two doors in
the room have their edges stuffed
with paper. They are also locked
from the inside.
Date: November, 1896
Deceased: Maggie Wilson
Witness: Lizzie Miller, a
neighbor.
“I roomed in the same house
as Maggie Wilson but knew
her only from we met in the
hall. I think she had ‘fits
’ [seizures]. A couple of male
friends came to see her fairly
regularly.”
“On Sunday night, the men
were there and there was a lot
of drinking going on. Some
time after the men left, I
heard the water running in
the bathroom. I opened the
door found her as you see
her.”
The model shows the scene as
discovered by Lizzie Miller
1. The Bottles & Glass - A bottle
and an empty glass are knocked
over on the bathroom rug.
Investigators should dust these for
latent prints. That would allow
them to eliminate the presence of
others in the bathroom.
Maggie Wilson is dead in the tub in the small, dark bathroom. The
water runs over her face and her legs are splayed over the side of the
tub.
2. The Sink - The sink could
contain evidence that she
refreshed herself there, possibly
as a result of illness from her
disorder or alcohol.
tub.
3. The Tub Stopper - The stopper
is not in the tub, which would be
logical for someone drawing a
bath. She or her friends could've
placed her here to revive her.
tub.
4. The Legs - Her legs appear to
be in full rigor mortis which
indicates she may have been
moved to the tub. Had she died
here, her legs would fall in a more
natural manner.
tub.
5. The Body - The medical
examiner should check the body
for other signs of trauma,
including water in her lungs or
blows to the head. The ME will
determine death by natural
causes, intentional drowning or
accidental drowning.
tub.
Date: June 29, 1944
Deceased: Marie Jones, prostitute

Witness: Mrs. Shirley Flanagan,
landlord.
“That morning, I passed the open door

of Marie's room and called out ‘hello.’
She didn't answer so I looked in and
found room as you see it. Jim Green,
her boyfriend and client came in with
Marie the afternoon before. I don't
know when he left. I found her body
and called the police.”
Witness: Mr. Jim Green, boyfriend,

client.
“I met Marie on the sidewalk the

afternoon of June 28, and walked her
to a nearby package store where we
bought two bottles of whiskey. We
went to her room and sat smoking and
drinking for a while. Marie sat in the
big chair and got very drunk.
Suddenly, without any warning, she
grabbed my open jackknife—I used it
to cut the string on the bottles—and
ran into the closet and shut the door.
When I opened the door, she was lying
there just like that. I left immediately.”
The model shows the premises as Mr

1. The Rag & Bottles - There are
two bottles of whiskey on the floor
next to a table. Why are they
knocked over? There is a rag,
which looks like it's covered in
blood lying on the floor next to the
wall near the bottles. It should be
collected, tested and blood typed
for identification.
Marie Jones is dead in the closet of her small room. Her throat has
been cut and her head is lying on a cardboard box. The murder
weapon is lying next to her body.
2. The Candy - An open box of
candy is on the floor near the
bottles. Who bought the candy?
The fancy packaging could be
traced back to the store. Are any
missing? Do the contents of her
stomach prove she had eaten
them? At the very least, Jim
should be questioned about them.
3. The Body - Are those bangles
or were her wrists bound? The ME
needs to check the angle of the
wound on her neck to determine if
it was self-inflicted. The ME
should test her blood alcohol to
corroborate Jim's story. Lastly,
did she fall in a natural manner?
4. The Bureau & Glass - All her
dresser drawers are open. Are
they empty? There is a glass
randomly in the middle of the floor
near the dresser. That is odd.
What is in the glass?
5. The Suitcase - Coupled with
the open dresser drawers, it
appears she was trying to leave in
a hurry. What is in the suitcase?
Date: Friday, August 23, 1946
Deceased: Dorothy Dennison, a high school

student
Witness: Mrs. James Dennison, mother
“On Monday, about eleven o'clock, Dorothy

walked downtown to buy some hamburger steak
for dinner. She didn't have much money in her
purse. When she didn't to return in time for
dinner, I called my neighbor who said she'd
seen her walking toward the market, but hadn't
seen her since. I also called the market and the
proprietor said he had sold Dorothy a pound of
hamburger some time before noon, but didn't
notice which way she turned when she left. By
late afternoon, I was really alarmed and called
the police.”
Witness: Lt. Peale, police officer.
“On Monday afternoon, at 5:25 p.m., I took the

telephone call from Mrs. Dennison at Police
Headquarters, and at once took charge of the
matter personally. The customary inquiries
began and by Wednesday, a systematic search
of all closed or unoccupied buildings in the
vicinity was undertaken. It was not until Friday,
August 23 at 4:15 p.m., that me and Officer
Patrick Sullivan entered the Parsonage and
found her.”
Additional Information: The temperature during

the week ranged between eighty six and ninety
two degrees with high humidity.
1. The Covered Chairs & Piano -
The furniture is covered as if
nobody lives here? Where is the
rector and who else has keys? Is
there blood on the piano or the
stool? It's possible she was
attacked from behind while she
sat there.
Dorothy Dennison is dead on the floor of the parsonage. There is a

knife in her abdomen, her legs are slightly spread and her dress is
pulled up. There is a hammer lying not far from her head. Blood has
saturated the floor.
2. The Body - She is not lying in
a natural position. Given the heat
and humidity, the amount of
decomposition will help determine
time of death. The bite marks on
her body should be photographed
and impressions taken. Were they
pre- or post-mortem?

3. The Hammer - Is there other
latent evidence on the hammer,
besides human remains? Is there
a toolbox nearby? This will help
determine whether the hammer
was grabbed for convenience or
was brought to the scene. Did the
hammer kill her or was it the knife
in her abdomen?

4. The Purse & Package - Both
are neatly placed on the chair, as
if she was not in a hurry to set
them down. The condition of the
hamburger should corroborate the
timeline of the witness
statements.

5. The Mail - The presence of
mail further proves that nobody
was currently in residence. Who is
the mail addressed to? Who
should be picking it up?

Death in Diorama
- www.deathindiorama.com
The Nutshell Studies of

Unexplained Death
– Corrine May Botz
Of Dolls and Murder

– Documentary by Susan
Marks
Images & investigatory material used under a

Creative Commons license.

In A Nutshell

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

In A Nutshell

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

A close look at the life’s work of Frances Glessner Lee

Jon Lee Rees

Three Room Dwelling

The model shows the premises

Deceased: Marie Jones, prostitute

“That morning, I passed the open door

Witness: Mr. Jim Green, boyfriend,

“I met Marie on the sidewalk the

The model shows the premises as Mr

Deceased: Dorothy Dennison, a high school

Witness: Mrs. James Dennison, mother

“On Monday, about eleven o'clock, Dorothy

Witness: Lt. Peale, police officer.

“On Monday afternoon, at 5:25 p.m., I took the

Additional Information: The temperature during

Dorothy Dennison is dead on the floor of the parsonage. There is a

Dorothy Dennison is dead on the floor of the parsonage. There is a

Dorothy Dennison is dead on the floor of the parsonage. There is a

Dorothy Dennison is dead on the floor of the parsonage. There is a

Dorothy Dennison is dead on the floor of the parsonage. There is a

The Nutshell Studies of

Of Dolls and Murder

Images & investigatory material used under a

You might also like